Lamp for the headlights of vehicles



T. BOVEY LAMP FOR THE HEADLIGHTS OF VEHICLES April 4, 1939.

Filed June 12, 1937 Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAMP FOR THE HEADLIGHTS F VEHICLES Thomas Bovey, Philadelphia, Pa. Application June 12, 1937, Serial No. 147,942

6 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to illuminating devices and has especial reference to means in the form of an electric light bulb for an automobile headlight that is adapted for use in element or clear weather and in inclement or foggy and misty weather.

In the practice of my invention I provide unitary bulb that embodies means whereby the character of color of the emitted light may be 10 -readily changed from normal bright and glaring white rays to colored or tinted rays in the yellow group of light frequencies of the visible spectrum and preferably ranging between 5300 A. U. and 6000 A. U. (Angstrom units). This alteration or modification of the light rays may be readily accomplished by the turning of a switch on the instrument board of the vehicle within convenient reach of the occupant.

In its simplest embodiment my invention may comprise a "glass bulb which encloses the usual filaments for bright and dim illumination, and associated therewith and inside the bulb is a secondary illuminating unit capable of emitting colored rays of light. This secondary illuminating unit or light modifier may be in divers forms, several of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide means for modifying the light rays that are emitted by an electric light bulb whereby the flux of light-will be changed from the usual white rays to colored rays that are less glaring and to do this in an effective and dependable manner. Further objects of my invention relate to the provision of an electric light bulb that is novel in construction; is made of simple and sturdy parts so that it will withstand severe usage; is easy to install and operate; is dependable in operation; and is economical to manufacture so that it may be sold for a reasonable retail price.

Other objects and advantages, besides those i Figure 2 is a view in vertical section and enlarged of an electric light bulb made in accordance with my invention.

I desire it understood that the accompanying drawing is merely schematic for the purpose of showing typical or preferred forms in which my invention may be made, and that no limitations are to be interpreted therefrom. In the drawing, similar reference characters identify like parts whenever these parts appear in the different views.

The automobile headlight shown in Figure 1 consists of an outer acorn-shaped housing 5 having a glass lens 6 closing the open front thereof and having a parabolic reflector l mounted therein. The apex of the reflector I has an opening in which an electric light socket 8 is mounted, said socket having suitable conductor wires connected to it that lead to a suitable control switch. The socket 8 is preferably mounted in the reflector upon trunnions 9 disposed transversely and horizontally of the axis of the socket to permit of an up and down hinging movement of the socket as desired.

The tilting or hinging movement of the socket may be accomplished by any suitable manuallycontrolled means, such as mechanical, pneu matic, or electrical. As typical of any such means I have disclosed electrically operated devices. Mounted in any suitable manner within the housing is an electro-magnetic device I 0 having a magnetic pole II to which an armature I2 is attracted when the magnet is energized. The armature l2 projects from the rear of the socket and a suitable spring I3 is employed to return the socket to normal position. Obviously other types of electrically operated appliances maywell be employed.

A bulb which is used in the socket above described is shown in detail in Figure 2. The outside wall of the bulb is of clear glass and is substantially pear-shaped with its tapered or stem portion fitted into a metallic base or shell l5 that is provided with lateral pins 16 that engage bayonet slots in the socket 8. Extending inward from the .inner end of the stem of the bulb is a glass or insulating support ll through which the filaments l8 pass and said filaments have their inner portions formed into small coils I9 and 20 that are adapted to become incandescent through the medium of the electric current. It will be noted the coil I9 is disposed in the axis of the bulb while the coil 20 is offset with relation thereto. The interior of the bulb may be charged with a suitable gas in the same manner as the standard bulbs used in automobile headlights for increasing the brilliance of the illumination. The filaments it are charged with electric current through the usual switch so that either one or the other of the coils l9 may be used at a time. Thecoil I9 is for the purpose of bright glaring illumination and the offset filament 20 is for dimming the light rays as it is out of the focus of the parabolic reflector.

Within the bulb above described I have placed a third or auxiliary filament 2! which is preferably supplied with electric current through the conductors and switch which control the electric magnet I 0, so that when the switch is closed to tilt the socket in the manner above described the current will be fed into the filament leading to the auxiliary coil 2| and said coil, due to the tilted position of the bulb will be at an approximately the same point which had previously been occupied by the bright light coil l9.

The coil 2| is surrounded by a light filter or filters made-of translucent material such as glass and are colored a yellow or amber hue. The light filter shown herein is a small glass globe 22 having open ends and concavo-convex louvers or shields 23 and 24 extend across these end openings in the mannershown. These louvers are preferably separated from the globe 22 by means of small spacers 25 to permit circulation through the globe 22. The louvers are preferably translucent material such as glass that is also colored a yellow or amber hue. Thus it will be seen the light rays passing through the globe 22 and louvers 23-44 take up the yellow or amber color of these filters and the light rays (both reflected and direct rays) emitted by the headlight will be modified and changed from the intense and glaring white light of the filament coils I 9 and 20 to a yellow or amber color that reduces the glare in the mist or fog and increases visibility. It will be understood the globe need not have open ends but it may be sealed so as to enclose a sodium vapor. In lieu of the sodium vapor, which produces a distinct yellow light, I may use other gaseous elements, such as neon, argon, uranium, or any other element orcombination of elements which will impart the yellow or amber color to the light rays.

After my invention is understood, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art, that the prin-- ciples involved are susceptible of a Wide range of modification and the structures herein disclosed may be capable of refinements as to their details and assembly. .I desire it expressly understood that all such modifications and refinements are fully contemplated by me as coming within the scope of my invention. I will here state that I claim broadly an electric light bulb that iscapable of readily changing the emitted light rays from normal white rays to a color that will in crease visibility when the light rays are projected into a mist, fog or other precipitation. The light bulb which I have invented, and herein disclosed, is'of a unitary character so that it may be readily inserted in a standard socket element and at the same time it is capable of performing dual purposes herein ascribed to it.

What I claim is:

1. A lamp for the headlight of a vehicle em bodying a suitable translucent shell; 9. base in which said shell is mounted; a filament post extending within said shell; a filament supported by said post and disposed axially of said shell; a plurality of filaments supported by said post and disposed in oil-set relation to said first-mentioned filament; each of said filaments adapted normally to emit relatively white rays of light when rendered incandescent; and a colored translucent light modifier supported by said post and disposed in co-active relation with respect to one of said filaments.

2. A lamp for the headlight of a vehicle embodying a suitable translucent shell; a base in which said shell is mounted; a filament post extending within said shell; a filament supported by said post and disposed axially of said shell; a plurality of filaments supported by said post and disposed in off-set relation to said first-mentioned filament; each of said filaments'adapted normally to emit relatively white rays of light when rendered incandescent; and a colored glass globe supported by said post and surrounding one of said oif-set filaments.

3. A lamp for the headlight of a vehicle embodying a translucent shell, a base in which said shell is mounted, a plurality of light filaments disposed laterally to each other within said shell and adapted to be rendered incandescent to emit light rays out of said shell, and a colored translucent shield within said shell and enveloping one of said light filaments, whereby all of the light rays emitted by the enveloped filament pass through said shield.

4. A lamp for the headlight of a vehicle embodying a glass shell, a base in which said shell is mounted, a filament post extendin'gwithin said shell, a plurality of filaments supported by said post in lateral relation to each other and adapted to emit relatively white rays of light when rendered incandescent, and a colored glass globe supported by said post and independent 01, said shell, said globe surrounding one of said filaments and through which globe all the light rays from said enveloped filament are adapted to pass.

5. A lamp for the headlight of a vehicle embodying a translucent shell, a base in which said shell is mounted, a plurality of light filaments disposed laterally to each other in said shell and adapted to be rendered incandescent to emit light rays out of said shell, a globe-shaped light filter surrounding one of said filaments and having open ends, and louvers extended across and spaced from the open ends of said filter, whereby all of the light rays from said filament are adapted to pass through said filter and said louvers.

6. A lamp for the headlight of a vehicle embodying a translucent shell, a base in which said shell is mounted, a plurality of light filaments disposed laterally to each other in said shell and adapted to be rendered incandescent to emit light rays out of said shell, a globe-shaped light filter surrounding one of said filaments and having open ends, and concavo-convex shields extended across and spaced from the open ends of said filter, whereby all the light rays from said filament are adapted to pass through said filter and shields.

THOMAS BOVEY. 

